Solar compass



March 3, 1936. E D, B N 2,032,462

SOLAR COMPASS Filed Jan. 10-, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Irnesi .27 .555]:

E. D. BEAN SOLAR COMPASS March 3, 1936.

Filed Jan. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 amen 1M Patented 3, 1936 UNITED. STATES PATENT VOFFICE' some commas mm 1). Bean, Piattsbm'g, N. Y." Application January 10, 1935, Serial morass 5 (cuss-oz) This invention relates to a solar compass for determining direction through the instrinnentality of an indicator mechanically rotated at uniform rate through a circular arc in a specific time interval which in certain embodiments of the invention may be twenty-four hours twelve hours. I

The invention therefore finds its logical embodiment in combination with a timepiece such as a watch or'clock.

One of the objects of the invention is to proand' in others vide a timepiece compass for automatically indieating north when the hour hand ispointed at the apparent sun.

Another object of the invention is the provision would arise should the timepiece have been inaccurately set. Still another object of the invention is to provide a solar compass of the class described in combination with correlated indicia on a boat, ship, aircraft, land or any other vehicle, by which the course of the same, or variations in the'course,

maybe ascertained, and thereby new courses may be laid.

Other objects. of the invention will appear as the following description of preferred and practical embodiments thereof proceeds.-

In the drawings which accompany and form r a part of the following specification and throughout the several figures of which the same characters of reference have been employed to'designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a timepiece exemplifying one embodiment of the invention; v

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same timepiece with the dial arranged for observations in the Southern Hemisphere;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modiiiedform of the invention; I I

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the hour hand employed in that form of the invention shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is still another modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a'plan view of an adaptation of my invention to a boat compass;

Figure '7 is a vertical section through that form of the invention shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view similar to that of Fig. 6, showing anotherform of the invention; and

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the device shown in Figure 8. Referring nowindetail totheseveraliigmes and first adverting to that form of the invention shown in Figure l, the numeral 1 represents in general a timepiece having the dial 2, minute handlandhourhand 4. Theminutehandis of no particular value in carrying out the operation' of the present invention and is only shown as being part of the conventional timepiece. A device in which the hour hand alone is provided would' operate equally. well. The dial is provided with the conventional set of hour numerals from 1 to 12, circumferentially arranged. The device operates upon the well known principle that when the hour stand is directed to the sun, the line representing the north and south direction will always biseet the angle between the hour hand and the hour numeral 12.

In carrying out this principle, two arcuate serles 5 and 6 of numerals are provided which for merical characters do not rotate, but are fixed upon the dial oi the timepiece and are designated arra'nged that withthe timepiece reading correct time and withthe hour hand directed at the sun,

during the afternoon, the particular numeral of the afterndon series found in line with'the hour hand, indicates the point on the hour numeral circumference which determines a radius from the rotational center of the timepiece, pointing north; t

In a similar manner, whenever the hour hand isdirected to the sim during-forenoon time, the corresponding north point can be similarly determined by using instead the numerals found on the inner or forenoon series 6. For example, in Figure 1, suppodngthes mis-in linewiththe hour hand. The numeral'fifi found at the point of the-hour hand indicates that a radius from the center of the timepiece through the quarter to five point on the hour circle will be pointing north.

It will be that for-the sake of clari-- menta ry curves l2 and I3, respectively.

characters are such and are so arranged as to conform with conditions obtaining in the Southern Hemisphere.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the timepiece 8 comprises a dial 9 having the conventional hour circle Ill with figures from 1 to 12, inclusive. The face of the dial and the hour hand H are provided with comple- The curve 12 being fixedwith respect to the dial, may be painted thereupon or applied thereto in any suitable manner. The curve l3 being carried rotationally by the hour hand II, is necessarily of relatively rigid character and may be integral with the hand itself or suitably attached thereto. The point M of apparent intersection of the curves I2 and I3 shifts with the rotation of the hour hand and a line from thecenter of rotation of the hour hand through said shifting point l4 indicates the direction north, when the hour hand is pointed at the apparent sun.

The curves in the illustration are represented as spirals, but are not necessarily such, since other intersecting curves may be plotted that will give the same shifting apparent intersection.v However, at every point of intersection, the spiral curves as shown intersect at the widest possible angles, therefore more definitely determining the point of their apparent intersection. The outer extremity of the fixed curve is preferably located on a radial line which passes through the time numeral 1:30 o'clock, and the inner end of this curve is on a radius passing through the time numeral 10:30 oclock. A point I IE on this same curve, determined by the intersection of a radius passing through the hour numeral 6, separates the curve into afternoon and forenoon sections i1 and I8, respectively, the former including the inner portion" of said curve and being preferably colored dark, while the forenoon section constituting the outer part of said curve is colored light.

The curve carried by the hour hand is similar, but opposite in its arrangement to the fixed curve. It is somewhat longer at its inner end than the fixed curve to permit its attachment. to the hour hand. The point l6 which is exactly the same distance from the outer extremity of the movable curve as the point I5 is from the corresponding end of the fixed curve, divides the movable curve into inner and outer sections representing respectively rangesof afternoon and forenoon positions of the shifting point of intersection and being contrastingly colored. The outer end of the movable curve has anextension 22 which is mere brace and is preferably so colored as to be unobtrusive.

The third'form of the invention, illustrated in Figure 5, relates to a timepiece having the usual. time hands 23 and 24 and a third hand or direction indicator 25, the latter hand being mounted on an arbor geared to operate at half speed with respect to the arbor which actuates the hour hand 23, and therefore carrying out the principle of the invention above enunciated by. always indicating the bisector of the angle between the hour numeral l2, when the clock is keeping correct time and is positioned so that the hour hand 'points at the sun. In order for the invention in this form to function as a direction indicator, it is essential at the time of first setting the device and every time it is set thereafter after having stopped, that the hands beso set that the time hands are together at the hournumeral l2 and the direction indicating hand 25 is simultaneously pointing atthe hour numeral 6, setting isdone during the afternoon but if setting-is donedur- 'ing the forenoon, that the hands be so set that the time hands and the direction indicating'hand are all simultaneously pointingat'v the hourv numeral I2, after which setting in either 'ifsase'the hands must be rotated in a clockwise direction to proper time. 1

The hand 25 preferably displays the letters N" third hand will point in a dir'ectionnorth. 'However, this is only the case if the timepiece has been originally set with the hands in the relation above stated. v

- If the timepiece had been set vitnf ui hands in reversed relation, that is to'say, all three hands on the hour numeral l2,;when 1the time hands should have been on ,the hour numeral [2 and the indicator hand 25 on the hour numeral 6, this will not be the case for while the third hand will lie in a north and south line when the hour hand is pointing tothe sun, the north end of the third hand will be pointing south. Therefore, to avoid confusion and to assure the observer that the timepiece was set correctly and is therefore not giving him aspurious indication of direction, it is desirable to arrange a, series of Afternoon north points 26 and Forenoon north points? 21in encompassing relation to the dial respectively outside and inside of the hour numerals and concentric with the rotational center of the hands ofthe timepiece. The afternoon and forenoon north points are so numeralized with respect to the hour numerals, that with. the timepiece running and indicating correct time, and the hour hand 23 directed at the sun during the afternoon, the numeral in the Afternoon north point column immediately in line with the hour hand indicates the hour numeral determining a radius from the rotational center of thetimepiece directed northerly, and toward which the pointingend of the hand '25 is directed it the hands have been correctly set. Likewise, when the hour hand is directed to the sun during forenoon time the numerical character then occurring in the series at the point of the third hand, it is at once known that the original setting" of the timepiece was not co'rrectly'done and that the direction hand is pointing south instead-of north. g

The range of afternoon and forenoon north point numerals is exemplary only and a greater or less number of daylight hoursmay be provided for by either diminishingfor extendingthe range of said afternoon and forenoon north points according to convenience or necessity.

Any one of the three forms of the invention above described is adapted to be employed as an indicator of direction or in determining courses in the movement of land, water or air vehicles. Figures 6 to 9 illustrate the third form of the invention, that is to say, the solar compass provided with'an indicating hand employed as a directionindicator on a boat. In Figure 6, the bow of the boat is represented at 28 on which is suitably mounted a turntable 29 of suitable diameterto suit the solar compass. Outside of the turntable and in fixed relation to the boat is an annulus 30 showing the cardinal points N. E. S. and W. and the degree angles therebetween. The west point is on the right with the east point diametrically opposite. The north and south points are coincident with the lubber line 3|. In determining the direction in which the boat is moving, the solar compass is placed on the turntable and the latter rotated until the hour hand 23 points to the sun. The third or direction indicating 'hand 25 points to north and in the example shown, it is obvious that the lubber line of the boat is directed 60 east of north.

Another and perhaps a more convenient'arrangement is shown in Figure 8 in which the turntable 29 is surrounded by a revolvable annulus 32 carrying the cardinal points N. E. S. W. and the intermediate angles in terms of degrees.

- In this form of the invention the east and west marks are in their natural positions, east being to the right of north. The annulus 32 revolves with respect to the fixed lubber line 3|. The solar compass is placed upon the turntable and the latter oriented until the hour hand 23 points to the sun. The third hand is then pointing north. The annulus 32 is then revolved until the cardinal point north coincides with the line of direction of the third hand 25, whereupon the point on the annulus intersected by the lubber line indicates the course of the vessel.

As stated, any other of the described forms of solar compass may be substituted for that form of the invention herein shown upon the turntable.

It is to be understood that while I have in the foregoing disclosure described what I believe to be preferred and practical forms of the invention, these are merely by way of illustration and not to be construed as limiting the invention which may find legitimate embodiment in many other mechanical constructions and arrangements which may be considered the equivalent of those herein illustrated and describe What I claim is: I

1. Solar compass comprising a dial and an hour hand mechanically rotated at uniform speed through one revolution in twelve hours, said dial having an annular scale of hour indices, said hour hand and said dial being provided with cooperating linear index members similar throughout their working ranges and reversely placed in intersecting relationwhereby the point of intersection shifts with the revolution of said hour hand,

said linear indices being so shaped and disposed that when the compass is oriented to a position in which'the hour hand, keeping correct time, points at the sun, said point of intersection lies north- 1| erly with respect to the rotational axis of the hour hand.

2. Solar compass comprising a dial and an hour hand mechanically rotated at uniform speed through one revolution in twelve hours, said dial having an annular scale of hour indices, said hour hand being provided with a curved member and said dial displaying a cooperating curve similar to the curvature of said curved member throughout the working range of said curves, but

reversely placed in intersecting relation, said curves being extended suflic-lently around the rotational center of said hour hand to provide two points of intersection for at least part of the time, said points of intersection shifting with the revolution of said hour hand, said linear indices being so shaped and disposed that when the compass is oriented to a position in which the hour hand, keeping correct time, points at the sun, one of said points of intersection lies northerly with respect to the rotational axis of the hour hand, the ranges of movement of said intersecting points on said curves being contrastingly distinguished respectively for forenoon and afternoon observations.

3. Solar compass comprising a dial and an hour hand mechanically rotated at uniform speed through one revolution in twelve hours, said dial having an annular scale of hour indices, said hour hand being provided with a spirally curved member and said dial displaying a cooperating curve similar to the curvature of said curved member throughout the working range of said curves, but reversely placed in intersecting relation, said curves being extended suiliciently around the rotational center of said hour hand to provide two points of intersection for at least part of the time, said points of intersection shifting with the revolution of said hour hand, said curves being so shaped and disposed that when the compass is oriented to a position in which the hour hand, keeping correct time, points at the sun, one of said points of intersection lies northerly with respect to the rotational axis of the hour hand, the ranges of movement of said intersecting points on said curves being contrastingly distinguished respectively for forenoon and afternoon observations.

4. Solar compass comprising a dial having an annular scale of hour indices, and an hour hand cooperating with said scale, an additional hand mechanically rotated at half the speed of said hour hand and in such relationship thereto that hand determines a north and south line when the compass is oriented to a position in which the hour hand, keepingcorrect time, points to the sun.

ERNEST D; BEAN. 

